Jake Thackray - The Bull

[macbanana]

Such a beauty of a Yorkshire man poet.

[Leonmitch]

Absolutely!!!

[donknight55]

Cleva song! Great

[itsPenguinBoy]

Yes Abe! i never noticed!

[jimzy61]

Abraham Lincoln?

[SkewerLad]

Sheer sheer genius. Not unique though - check our Jake's guru Georges Brassens. Does kinda require fluency in Provencale French to see the similarity in verbal dexterity and wit, but you'll see what I mean regardless...

[flintykicker]

amzing talent ... i think i have had to play this about 20 times in a row a true lyrical genius

[Seaventeares]

My unsubmisssive cock. I almost forgot about my todger. Ta Jake for reminding me of my ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[Leonmitch]

Ole Jake! Just beautiful! An amazing talent. x (:-)

[stanwellback]

I never really appreciated Jake Thackray during his heyday, but having recently discovered that the band Wild Beasts cite him as an influence, I gave him a fresh listen. Maybe because I'm such a big fan of Wild Beasts, and can definitely see similarities in the two acts' styles, I can now better appreciate Thackeray's indisputable genius. If you like Jake Thackray, give Wild Beasts a listen (and vice versa).

[edwards21416]

what a mintrel

[yibizwelti]

oh !cum on .guys brill if jordan's famous,summits wrong m8.this guys fantastic!!!!

[yibizwelti]

oh !cum on .guys brill if jordan's famous,summits wrong m8

[otidbdriftwood]

Simply a "one off" no one came, or will ever come near the genius of the man and his songs. Cheers Jake.

[lewisner]

I need a time machine so I can go back and chat up the babe in the brown pullover at 1.30

[grumps2010]

I remember Jake from when he was doing point songs for the Braden Beat out of BBC Bristol. We met occasionally, drank a pint or three and I was so sad at his untimely death. This man has got to have been the finest country poet and lyricist we will have seen and maybe will ever see. What a genius!

[grumps2010]

I remember Jake from when he was doing point songs for the Braden Beat out of BBC Bristol. We met occasionally, drank a pint or three and I was so sad at his untimely death. This man has got to have been the finest country poet and lyricist we will have seen and maybe will ever see. What a genius!

[Codiefan]

Has anyone got footage of Jake's argument with Cyril "cross-eyed smug twat" Fletcher on That's Life? Please post it! Jake's lyrics appear in so many songs today in bits & bods...just goes to prove he was a massive, if very quiet Influence! Love Ya Jake! Hope yer givin them hell in heaven!

[dav01kar]

whos the guy on the bass

[mtend06]

@dav01kar Alan Williams

[MrBrunswickgreen]

I turned on my TV late one night 18 months or so back and this song came straight on - a BBC2 tribute 'Jake on the box' - one of those rare moments in life, I was so impressed, what a talented man. These songs should be spread far and wide. 

[andy191266]

wow what calibre...........

[MsSlashhh]

coisa mais tosca

[captainkundalini1]

As deadpan and funny as Buster Keaton

[runsawayallot]

genius

[mowbray1985]

Legendary!!

[annlesleymitchell]

JT at his brilliant best! Fabulous stuff.

[jonnybee64]

this guy deserves to be considered as a true legend, great tunes and wit, brilliant guitar work

[pauldodo1]

Definitely my favourite Jake song. Still sadly missed....

[WatTyler13]

The genius of Jake. What a man.

[sashaclarkson]

Brilliant!!! Thank you so much for uploading it. This song is one of my absolute faves. I have what I'm sure is the same performance on a very scratched old vinyl record.

I was privileged to see Jake live twice around 1980. When I heard he'd died it felt like a personal bereavement.

[ollymcguirk]

haha this is fantastic, kinder reminds me a bit of a more modern version of those funny cool songs that are in things like robin hood lol

[perromanchado]

brilliant

[sheepsick]

Hadn't heard of him until today - what a find. Where is he from? Any biographical facts?

[juancarlos2nd]

Take a look at the website in his name - it's got all the lyrics and quite a few of his intros and anecdotes. If you can get hold of it, there's a wonderful book of his songs, published a long time ago, which has the most brilliant introduction to it.

Jake used to live in Monmouth and I knew him when he lived there. He was the funniest man who I have ever known, and I wish that I had been old enough to have gone out to the pub with him. Hearing his voice again was the best thing in the world.

[Raythack1]

I was very interested to read your comments. I was the same age as Jake when I first met him in the late sixties at a folk night in a pub, always his preferred venue. I am very fortunate to still be performing his unique songs, to the best of my own humble ability, in the beautiful countryside of South Shropshire. Forever is a long time, but that's how long I believe his songs will last. Thank you again. Ray.

[ollymcguirk]

yorkshire

[synchc]

near leeds

[samplemuso]

marvellous! good guitaring too!

[Raythack1]

I was in a black country band called Giggetty and worked with Jake during the seventies. He is probably the most genuine soul I've ever had the privlige to meet. A Genuine, and a modest man in his own unique way. We miss him and I can't help wondering what else he may have wrtten had he still been with us. I raise my glass to the greatest trubadour of unique songs about the human condition that ever was or ever will be. His songs will echo down the generations for a very long time to come.

[andy191266]

yes i don't know of a song so clever in france he'd be a legend he is in my house anway

[TheBardofHumdrum]

I mean... this is English. English Folk Music. Real English Folk Music, quintessentially Anglo-Saxon gold! Okay perhaps in part inspired by French Balladeers, like Georges Brassens.. but I always hear about us English wanting to be patriotic... well Jake Thackray died in 2002 with barely a media murmer. :( such a genius... a bob dylan of our own.

[RhythmThieves]

Absolutely brilliant. I've only just started to appreciate what a great songwriter he was. Thanks for posting this.

[andy191266]

yes i agree sheer genius. very anxious man about being on stage and you can see that. but you get a real taste of his humbleness here and what used to be called socialism but lets call community spiritedness...

[firestartertwistedfi]

where can ii get hold fo this documentary?

[Stratocastermagic]

Genius? Oh yes! Great to see this again - great song, great performance.

[destrala]

The word 'Genius' is over-used and too easily applied ....but when I hear Jake sing like this then it is the most apt way to describe a uniquely talented but mostly forgotten man. He is the Boss because he is big ...and we are so very small.

[firestartertwistedfi]

well einstein was a genius - not sure jake is quite in the category, but i do love him

[cornsockgabz]

Genius isn't an epithet reserves for scientists, but yeah I wouldn't say genius to this guy, it's pretty funny but not genius.

[destrala]

Not every prophet is received in his own land....not every genius is recognised ...not every person is touched in the same way by what another achieves. The dictionary defines 'Genius' as a 'Person with exceptional ability in a particular subject, or activity'. When you know more of the man you will know what a genius he was and is.

[japroctor]

Thank you so much whoever posted this. I was lucky enough to see Jake in concert twice, a wonderful entertainer and lyricist. I suppose it's too much to hope that a DVD will be issued of any of his live performances.

Thank you Jake for your wonderful legacy, I miss your wit and wisdom so much.

[GordonCharlton]

"if you must put people on pedestals, wear a big hat"

Genius!

[ChazzaTRappa]

I absolutely agree that Jake Thackray was a genius. Unique and absolutely brilliant. Very sadly missed.

[synchc]

He is a jolly good fellow on call no more.

[rockeee]

Unique and fantastic.

[alaninter]

thanks so much for posting this. great show and this song takes some beating for insight and wit. "beware of the bull" exactly. no gods no masters x

[maudie25]

no surprise that it is not available on BBC iPlayer, dont know what we would do withoutYoutube - just wish they could get more videos. but rotten BBC have copyright and intend to cash in on it

[rustwood2]

Sheer, sheer genius. I love to play his songs but this one is a real challenge. What a man, what a loss.

[timtba]

Thanks for posting this. I saw this programme a few years back and I've been looking for this song ever since. Brilliant!

[GuitarGuruKendo]

This guy is a hidden gem , smart funny and if you look closely a really unique guitar style.

[jazzfanjohn]

Great number. Who's the bass player - I know it's not Sting!

[iolorufus]

His name is Allan Williams. Sadly he passed away a few years back. I used to baby-sit his 2 sons and daughter. He was a fantastic musician! I had the pleasure of seeing them both perform in Cardiff, where Allan lived, when I was young. Didn't appreciate the wit and music at the time.

[Shitsucker74]

Jake Thackray should be revered as one of this countries greatest satirical songwriters. He was a genius, my mum grew up on the same street as him as a kid and knew him. I just wish I could have met him too. If it wasn't for Jake we wouldn't have many of todays great satirists.

[inspired86]

I really need this programme! I am doing Musical Comedians for my Final Year thesis! thought it would be on BBC i player! Anyone know where i can get a copy? PLEASE MSG ME!

[abwishiwassomewhere]

Hi inspired86, I was lucky enough to have recorded it on bt vision. If you know how I can transfer that to a video player, please let me know and consider it done. Techi I am not. However, as a huge admirer of one of this countries greatest songwriters, I would be more than happy to help. I was lucky enough to have met Jake Thackray in 1990.......A true gentleman.

[Mackeson3]

I missed the first half of this programme when it was shown the other night and guess what, it is not available to view on BBC iPlayer!

[mymegabiz]

Unbelieveably clever. Perfect. I must admit it brought a tear to my eye.

[skitchcraig]

Brilliant!! So glad to see this clip back on.

A great song by a great performer.

[TonyMarco1948]

This is an important clip, Jake singing his masterpiece. What a genius, musically and lyrically. How could he have died a broken bankrupt in Wales? He should be as high in this country's pantheon as his hero, Georges Brassens, is in France.

[tonymarco2000]

@TonyMarco1948 How right you are!